Brake operating means



Feb.'4, 1941. 5 GLADSTONE i 4 2,230,746

BRAKE OPERATING AMEANS Filed Jan. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 4, 1941. s. GLADsToNE 2,230,746

l BRAKE OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WHL /0 /0 In ventor 224 jf .5207; G/adsyw 9 ////////////////W//////// By QM mg A orne ys Patented F eb. 4, 1941 Unis STATES PATENT, OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in brake operating means particularly for motor vehicles equipped with hydraulic brakes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus embodying a novel construction and arrangement whereby wear as it occurs as well as loss of fluid from leakage will be automatically compensated for, thereby maintaining high operating efficiency over a comparatively long period of time without the necessity of making adjustments.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a brake operating mechanism of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, reliable, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in vertical longitudinal section through an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the forward portion of the device, showing an automatic adjustment about to occur.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the slidable shoe.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated casing I which is mounted longitudinally in any suitable manner beneath the floor of the automobile, as at 2. At its forward end, the casing I is provided with an opening 3, aianged neck 4 defining said opening. The rear end of the elongated casing I is closed by a removable plate 5.

The upper portions of the side walls of the casing I are provided, in said casing, with longitudinally extending anges 6. Resting on the flanges 6 is a vertically movable plate 'I the purpose of which will be presently set forth.l Coil springs B yieldingly resist upward movement of the plate 'I.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in (Cl. 18S- 196) the casing I below the flanges 6 is a substantially channel shaped shoe or member 9. The side walls I0 of the substantially channel shaped shoe 9 have formed therein series of forwardly inclined grooves I I. Then, the upper portion of the walls 5 I0 are recessed, as at I2, these recesses establishing communication between the grooves I I.

Mounted rearwardly of the casing I is a master hydraulic brake cylinder I3. Brake conduits I4 are connected to the rear end portion of the 10 cylinder I3. Fixed to the shoe 9 and extending into the cylinder I3 from the casing I is a rod I5. Mounted on the rear end of the rod I5 and operable in the cylinder I3 is a piston I6.

The reference numeral I'I designates a foot 15 pedal which is pivotally mounted beneath the floor board of the vehicle, as at I8. Projecting from the pivoted end of the foot pedal I'I is an arm I9. A suitable return spring 24 is provided for the foot pedal I'I. 'Ihe reference numeral 20 20 designates a push rod having one end pivotally connected to the arm I9, said push rod extending through the opening 3 into the casing I. On the rear end of the push rod 20 is a crosshead 2| having reduced end portions 22 which are engaged 25 in certain of the inclined grooves II. A collapsible seal 23 connected to the push rod 20 and the flanged neck 4 closes the opening 3 in the casing I.

It is thought that the operation of the appara- 30 tus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the foot pedal Il is depressed the push rod 2U moves the shoe 9 rearwardly in the casing I thus actuating the piston I6 through the medium of the rod I5 for 35 forcing the uid to the brakes of the vehicle. Of course, under normal conditions, when the pedal Il is released the parts return to substantially the position shown in Figure l of the drawings for releasing the brakes. However, if any con- 40 siderable wear or loss of fluid has occurred the brake pedal I'I, when it returns to raised position, drags the crosshead 2| upwardly in the manner suggested in Figure 2 of the drawings, said crosshead being pulled forwardly over the rounded 45 upper ends of the lands between the adjacent grooves II and dropping into the next forward grooves. The brakes of the vehicle now release, the inclination of the grooves II permitting a predetermined release movement of the brake 50 shoes. 'Ihe length of the inclined grooves II is more than suiiicient to permit enough horizontal movement of the shoe 9 to allow the brakes to release at all times, the crosshead 2| traveling in said grooves. This constitutes an important 55 and highly desirable feature vof the invention. Also, the master cylinder I3 is of greater length than those in use at present for permitting sufcient travel of the piston I6 to apply the vehicle brakes after a number of automatic adjustments have been made. As the crosshead 2| is thus pulled upwardly and forwardly for accomplishing an automatic adjustment of the brakes the plate 'I is engaged and raised thereby against the tension of the coil springs 8. The plate 1 constitutes means for yieldingly securing 0r retaining the crosshead 2| in the grooves Il. While the apparatus is particularly intended for hydraulic brakes it may also be used for mechanical brakes.

It is believed that the many advantages o1?Y a brake operating mechanism constructed in accordance With the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A brake operating means for Vehicles comprising an elongated casing, a substantially channelshaped shoe slidably mounted in said casing for operative connection with the brakes of the vehicle, said shoe having series of inclined grooves in its side Walls, Said grooves communicating with each other at their upper ends, a foot pedal, a rod operatively connected to said foot pedal, a crosshead on said rod engageable selectively in the -grooves for operatively connecting the shoe to the foot pedal, and a spring pressed plate slidably mounted in the casing and engageable with the crosshead for yieldingly securing said crosshead in the grooves.

SCOTTY G-LADSTONE. 

